• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.666-677
• /
• 2019

In order to understand the distribution of organic matter and heavy metal concentrations in the surface sediments of fishery resources protection areas (FRPAs), we measured the grain size, ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, and Zn) in the surface sediments collected at 54 stations of 5 FRPAs (Gamak Bay, Yeoja Bay, Deukryang Bay, Wando coast, and Youngkwang coast) in the southwestern coast of Korea in February 2017. The surface sediments consisted of fine sediment such as mud, with 2.9~8.8Ø (7.4±0.1Ø) of mean grain size. The average concentrations of IL, COD, and AVS in the sediments were 4.63±0.96 %, 13.0±3.1 mgO₂/g·dry, and 0.092±0.124 mgS/g·dry, respectively, and were lower for sediments from the Youngkwang coast than those from other FRPAs. The average concentrations of heavy metals in the sediment were 7.5±0.9 mg/kg for As, 0.04±0.02 mg/kg for Cd, 70.2±9.7 mg/kg for Cr, 15.3±2.8 mg/kg for Cu, 3.3±0.5 % for Fe, 0.014±0.003 mg/kg for Hg, 25.0±6.0 mg/kg for Pb, and 99±14 mg/kg for Zn, respectively, and were relatively higher for sediments in the inner bays than those from the outer bays and coasts. Based on the assessment of sediment samples using the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), the pollutant load index (PLI), and the ecological risk index (ERI), the surface sediments of FRPAs in the southwestern coast of Korea do not appear to be polluted by heavy metals, suggesting that the heavy metal concentrations in the sediments would not adversely impact aquatic and benthic organisms.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.192-202
• /
• 2010

This study aimed to suggest the severity of indoor air pollutants in screen gold arenas which were not sufficiently investigated in Korea up to now and to help users to enjoy golf in more pleasant indoor environment. The indoor environment survey was conducted with 21 screen gold arenas in Seoul from Oct. 28, 2008 to March 13, 2009. Indoor air quality was measured and analyzed in accordance with the Air Pollution Process Test Method specified bu NIOSH(2005). The screen golf arenas are mostly in the underground floors in this study, 4 on the ground floors(19.0%) and 17 in the underground floors(81.0%). In the air in screen golf arenas, the geometric mean of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene were 2.92 ${\mu}g/m^3$, 70.34 ${\mu}g/m^3$, 14.00${\mu}g/m^3$ and 31.43 ${\mu}g/m^3$, respectively, which exceeded the exposure limites. Each arena exceeded the exposure limit for one pollutant each. However, styrene didn't exceed the limit as 8.09 ${\mu}g/m^3$. Furthermore, the geometric mean of formaldehyde was 63.11${\mu}g/m^3$ and 7 arenas exceeded the limit. The geometric mean of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) was 428.41${\mu}g/m^3$ and 10 arenas exceeded the limit. For the density distribution of pollutants by location, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene and formaldehyde showed higher density distribution in underground spaces, for which the statistically significant difference was not found. However, PM10 showed the statistically significant difference (p<0.05). In accordance with the analysis on the correlation between the density of pollutants in the screen golf arenas, Pearson correlation coefficient between ethylbenzene and styrene was 0.980, very significant correlation(p<0.01). The correlation coefficients between the density of toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and styrene and that of VOCs were 0.543, 0.434, 0.451 and 0.459, respectively, which demonstrated the statistically significant difference (p<0.05).

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.38-44
• /
• 2015

In Korea, most rainfall events occur during summer which then leads to an increasing concern regarding high influx of non-point source pollutants since the pollutant loadings from these non-point sources are very significant. In particular, the first flush of roof-harvested rainfall is said to contain the most highest concentration of nutrients and heavy metals. Accordingly, it is important to develope the possible water quality management options in treating the contaminants and considering reclaimed water reuse. The rain garden could be one of suitable alternatives in addressing this issue. In this study, the development of an effective adsorption media and its application to a lab-scale rain garden was tested to evaluate the removal rate of various nutrient and organic matter (TN, TP, CODcr), and heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Pb). Results showed that carbonized peatmoss produced at higher temperature have better adsorption capacity as compared to the one produced at a lower temperature. When the carbonized peatmoss was applied as rain garden media, the highest removal of TN, TP, and CODcr was observed compared to no carbonized peatmoss applied rain garden. Therefore, this study showed that the carbonized peatmoss would be effectively applied to the rain garden for removing nutrients and heavy metals from roof-harvested rainwater.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.242-246
• /
• 2000

This study was carried out to show the chemical variations of monthly water quality and to estimate the quality as irrigation water at Seo-Lake. The water quality was surveyed at 6 sites for 7 months from May to November in 1999. The average concentration of $COD_{Cr}$ at Seo-Lake was 47.8mg/L. This value meant that the organic matters at the lake would exceed to the crop damage level (50mg/L). Especially, the values in May and in July were 83.07mg/L, 80.64mg/L, respectively. The average concentration of $NH_3-N$ was appeared to 2.84mg/L. But it was shown 5.72mg/L in May. That could put a restraint on the productive power of the crops. It was supposed that happened by eutrophication. And the water pollutant levels were high at stagnation part of the lake. But average water quality of the lake could be used for irrigation. The result showed that the research and the management of water quality were needed to make the lake water more suitable as the source for irrigation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.171-176
• /
• 2003

The fate and behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) and heavy metals in the environment are mainly controlled by their interactions with various components of soils and sediments. Due to their large surface area and abundance in many soils, smectites may greatly influence the fate and transport of the contaminants. In our experiment, PAH sorption by hexadecyltimethylammonium(HDTMA)-modified smectite linearly increased in proportion to the amount of HDTMA added on the clay. However, trimethylammonium(TMA)-modified smectite did not show superiority in its sorption of PAH compared with the HDTMA-smectite or dodecyltrimethylammonium(DTMA)- smectite. Meanwhile, the smectites modified with the same cationic surfactants adsorbed Cd$^{2＋}$(heavy metal) significantly from water at low surfactant loading level, but the Cd$^{2＋}$ adsorption linearly decreased as the loading of surfactant increased. The result shows that the sorption tendency of organoclays for organic or inorganic contaminants was significantly influenced by the amount and size of the surfactants added on the clay. This reveals that the stabilization and configuration of cationic surfactant formed on the clay interlayer of different sizes may be an important factor in controlling the sorptive capacity of each pollutant in the environment.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.368-377
• /
• 2012

This study evaluated the water quality of Yeongsan River by multivariate analysis using the data collected during 2001~2010. Water quality in Yeongsan River could be explained up to 75.2% by four factors, which were included in loading of nutrients (32.021%) and organic matters (17.453%), seasonal variation (14.775%) and microbes (10.951%). The results of cluster analysis were classified into three groups by factor 1 and 2, which has different water quality characteristics. Group 1 included sampling stations located in the upper stream and estuary dyke of Yeongsan River, group 2 included Gwangju 1 and Gwangsan affected by domestic sewage of Gwangju-cheon, and group 3 included sampling stations located in the midstream around the livestock farm and farmland.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.156-160
• /
• 1997

The combination of biological wastewater treatment process and membrane separation has many advantages such as better effluent quality and system stability over the conventional biological wastewater treatment process. In this study, direct membrane separation using nonwoven fabric was applied to biological wastewater treatment. A nonwoven fabric module was submerged in the aerated bioreactor. And accumulated biomass in the bioreactor was separated by suction. The system was operated with various condition to investigate pollutant removal efficiencies and flux. After formation of biomass layer on nonwoven fabric surface, a day, the stable effluent water quality was obtained. The flux decreased at a high suction pressure faster than a low pressure. The stable flux was obtained at the pressure of $21{\sim}25cmHg$. In spite of variation of hydraulic retention time, organic loading rate, the removal efficiencies of BOD, $COD_{Cr}$. $COD_{Mn}$ were very high as follows : $95.2%(0.14{\sim}0.97\;BODKg/m^3/day)$, $86.0%(0.17{\sim}1.39\;COD_{Cr}Kg/m^3/day)$, $90.0%(0.097{\sim}0.61\;COD_{Mn}Kg/m^3/day)$.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.20 no.11
• /
• pp.224-231
• /
• 2019

Recently, the pollution of groundwater has become serious. In particular, the contamination of groundwater near livestock farms is becoming increasingly severe and it is difficult to drink with drinking water. In this paper, a groundwater purifier apparatus that can be installed in a community well was designed. The designed groundwater purifier apparatus enables a RO membrane filter and UV sterilization to remove pollutants, such as heavy metals, bacteria, and organic compounds. In addition, electrical conductivity, pressure, and flow sensors were added for remote monitoring. Remote monitoring of the system can determine the level of fouling and contamination of RO membrane filters through pressure and flow sensor data, and can record changes in the contamination and condition of groundwater through the electrical conductivity of the feed water. The designed groundwater purifier apparatus was installed at a farmhouse and remote monitoring. The result after 15 days of operating a groundwater purifier apparatus and analyzing the monitoring data revealed an average permeate water flow rate of 2.67L/min and an average water pressure of 7.09kgf/㎠, indicating that the RO Membrane filtered without fouling and clogging. The average electrical conductivity was 796.6 S/㎠ of the feed water and 55.6 S/㎠ of permeate water, which is similar to that of general tap water. Through this, it was confirmed that no pollutant occurred in the surroundings. Therefore, the designed groundwater purifier apparatus can confirm the replacement time of the RO membrane filter in advance through remote monitoring, and check the pollution state of the groundwater.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.668-676
• /
• 2018

Most reservoirs in Korea have a low water depth and are small in size. Water pollution of the reservoir is serious because of the organic matter flowing from livestock wastewater, domestic sewage, and farmland. In this study, an attempt was made to improve the water purification effect by replacing the secondary dam installed in the depression area of the agricultural reservoir with the riprap dam. To evaluate the long-term performance, a riprap dam was installed in a reservoir in Gyeonggi province and water purification effect for 36 months was measured. The field test results showed that COD was 14.6%, SS 38.6%, T-N 9.5%, and T-P 11.2%. The concentrations in the influent water exhibited a significant change according to season, and the water purification effect increased with increasing concentration of influent water. The pollutant flowing into the lake from the depression area can be blocked effectively if the secondary riprap dam for water purification is installed in the agricultural reservoir.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.648-653
• /
• 2006

As an alternative for the traditional materials packed in biofilters treating gaseous VOCs, a novel packing material has been developed and tested. In the packing material(named as Hydrogel Bead, HB), pollutant-degrading microorganisms were immobilized in hydrogel consisted of alginate, polyvinyl alcohol(PVA), and powdered activated carbon. A closed-bottle study showed that the HB rapidly removed gaseous styrene without the losses of adsorption and biodegradation capacity. Biofilter column experiments using the HBs also demonstrated that greater than 95% of removal efficiencies were found at an inlet styrene loading rate of $245g/m^3/hr$, which was higher biofilter performance than other elimination capacity reported earlier. Furthermore, when the inlet styrene concentration increased stepwise, the adsorption played an important role in overall styrene removals. The absorbed styrene was found to be biodegraded in the following low inlet loading condition. Consequently, the new HB material is able to successfully minimize the drawbacks of activated carbon(necessity of regeneration) and biological processes(low removal capacity at dynamic loading conditions), and maximize the overall performance of biofilter systems treating VOCs.